Vulnerable children come to school without many of the foundation skills for school readiness. And schools often deliver mandated grade level content to students who are not ready or able to succeed at those levels. But without success and solid skills in all the domains of early childhood, there can be no equity and opportunity for poor and minority students. In this session we will consider a model that identifies crucial early learning skills, considers the readiness skills of each student, and then delivers essential instruction at the child's level for as long as needed for each student to develop competency. Quality early learning cannot be a race. Success and joyful learning are crucial ingredients to the foundation for learning which makes equitable opportunity possible.